Gear type blender assembly



Oct. 11, 1960 v E. K. BAUER 2,955,319

GEAR TYPE BLENDER ASSEEMBLY Filed Oct. '7, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 11, 1960 E. K. BAUER 2,955,319

GEAR TYPE BLENDER ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 7, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 0 o o 0 00000000000 0 o o o o o o oQoOoOoQoOoQoOo o o o o o o o o o oOoQoOoOoQoOoOoOoQo o o o o o o o o o OOoQoOoQoQoOoOoQoOo o o o o o o 0 O 0 ooooooooooooooooooo o o o o o o o o o oOoQoOoOoOoOoOo o o o o o o o ooooooooooooooo o 0 o o o 0 0 oOoOoOo o o o 2,955,319 GEAR TYPE BLENDER ASSEMBLY Ernest K. fBauer, Meadville,fiPa'.,i assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Philadelphia," Pa., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 7, 1957, SeraNo. 688,555-

4 Claims. (Cl. 1'8.-2)'

The present invention relates to an-apparatus for blendingor intimately intermixing' two or more, difierent fluid streams into a single stream ofuniform character.

In the production. of colored synthetic textile fibers, for example, it has been established that the, extrusion or spinning of pigmented filament forming materials provides highly satisfactory colored yarns, especially when compared with yarns colored by conventional dyeing procedures. From the standpoint of color quality or fastness, yarns formed from a pigmented filament forming material are not merely surface colored but possess generally uniform color characteristics throughout their cross-section. The colors of these yarns are therefore less sensitive to the effects of chemicals, heat, and light. Further, the elimination of the conventional dyeing procedures results in substantial manufacturing economies and, perhaps more important, avoids damage to the yarn as so often results with the usual dyeing techniques; The above noted advantages, however, can be obtained only when the pigment and the filament forming material are so intimately blended as to assure color uniformity of the mixtures throughout the extrusion process. Aside from the question of color uniformity, this blending operation must, of course, be economically effected in a minimum of'time, and with apparatus which can be readily cleansed when a shift of one color to another is contemplated; Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new or generally improved and more satisfactory apparatus for blending a plurality of different fluid streams.

Another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus for uniformly blending two or more different fluid streams with a combined shearing, stirring, and kneading action.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which will intersperse a plurality of different fluids with each other, and then blend the same into a uniform mass by a combined shearing, stirring and kneading'action.

A further object of the invention is to provide a geartype blending apparatus having a mixing chamber formed by a pair of spaced perforated plates between which are disposed a plurality of circumferentially spaced driven gears which are adapted to rotate as a unit about a common axis while being individually turned about their respective axes.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a blending apparatus which is capable of uniformly intermixing a plurality of different fluid streams economically and in a minimum period of time.

.These and other objects will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which: Figure l is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the blending apparatu of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line IIII of Figure 1;

Figiire3 is a side elevation of a member of a distributor an proportioning device of the present invention;

ate-m6 Figure 4 is a right side view of the structure shown in Figure 5 is a side elevation of another member of the distributor or proportioning device;

Figure 6 is a right side view of the structure shown in F r and- Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical section through a portion of the distributor device itself and thestructure adjacent thereto.

Ingeneral, the present invention is directed'to an apparatnsfoicontinuously blending a plurality of streams of different-fluids intoa single stream of uniform character. This blending operation is effected by first disrupting the separate fluid streams into a plurality of individual fluid streamswhich are then interspersed with each other to obtain a preliminary intermixing of the fluid streams. This mass of fluid is then completely and uniformly blended as it moves into and through one or more mixing chambers; These mixingchambers are each formed by a pair of spaced perforated plates between which are disposeda plurality'of circumferentially spaced driven gears which are rotated about a common axis while being turned about their individual axes. Thus, as the fluid mass-moves through the perforated plates, it is actually extruded into each of the mixing chambers. The driven gears, as they move about a common axis, effect a shearing of the extruded streams,-and in addition, carry the fluid mass about the mixing chamber with a stirring movement. Combined with these movements, the driven gears each rotate about their individual axes so that the fluid mass is also subjected to a working or kneading action within-each chamber.

With reference to the drawings, and particularly Figure 1, the blending apparatus of the present invention includes a cylindrical housing 1-3 having an inlet header 15, a header cap 17, an outlet header 19, and housing heads or end plates 21 secured to opposite ends of the housing 13 by bolts- 23. The end plates 21 are each provided with a central opening 25 through which extends a main. drive shaft 27. Roller bearings 29 support the drive shaft 27 for rotary movement relative to fixed supports 31 as the drive shaft is turned by a suitable driving means, not shown. Added support for the shaft 27 is provided -by sleeve bearings '33 which are press-fitted into the openings 25 of the housing end plates 21. To eliminate leakage along the periphery of the shaft 27, packing rings 35- are interposed between the housing end plates 21 and the drive shaft 27, and are maintained in position by packing glands 37'which are adjustable axially of the shaft 27 by the studs 39 and nuts 41. If desired, fluid sealing members, as for example O-rings, may be also provided between the-housing 13 and the end plates 21. A pair of saddle members 43 encircle the housing 13 and are interconnected to a stationary portion of the machine frame, as shown at 45, by dowel .pins 47 to prevent any tendency for the housing to rotate.

Disposed within the inlet header 15 is a distributor or proportioning device, generally indicated at 49, for initially mixing or interspersing the streams of fluid as they are delivered through the openings 50 and 51 in the cap 17 and inlet header 15, respectively. The distributor 49 is clamped between the inlet header 15 and the cap 17 by cap screws 52, with an O-ring 53 beinginterposed between these parts to prevent leakage. As best seen in Figures 37, the device 49 includes a pair of disks 54 and 55, the former of which is grooved along one face by cross-slots 57 and 59. These slots open at the disk periphery, and, in effect, form a plurality of bosses or spacers 61. The bosses 61, within the central area of the disk 54, are each provided with an opening 63. The disk 55 is formed withopenings 65 and '67 which align, respectively, with openings 63. andslots 57 and 59 in .they disk 54 whenrthe distributor device 49 is in its assembled condition as shown in Figure 7.

As heretofore mentioned, the distributor device 49 is positioned to intercept the streams of fluids as they are delivered through the openings 50 and 51. The fluid delivered through the opening 50 impinges against the plate 54 and is broken into a plurality of individual streams as it passes through the aligned openings 63 and 65. A second fluid, delivered through the opening 51, flows into the slots 57 and 59 in the disk 54 and is also disrupted into a plurality of individual streams as it passes through the openings 67. In view of the spacing and relative sizes of the openings 65 and 67, it will be apparent that the two fluids will be well interspersed with each other once the plurality of individual :tgreams are combined below with the distributor plate After this preliminary mixing, the combined fluids flow as a single stream into the mixing section of the blending apparatus indicated generally at 73. This mixing section 73 consists of a plurality of individual mixing chambers 75 which are formed by a plurality of circular plates 77 extending longitudinally of the housing 13 and a series of spacers 79 each having a smooth internal surface. A ring 81, bearing against an annular shoulder 83 formed internally of the housing 13, and the annular projecting flange portion 85 of the left end plate 21, as viewed in Figure I, serve to maintain the plates 77 and the spacers 79 in their sandwiched relationship. The plates 77 are each provided with a central aperture 87, through which extends the drive shaft 27, and are also formed with a plurality of extrusion ogifices 89, for PUI'POSCS as more fully described herea ter.

Located within each of the individual mixing chambers 75 are a series of circumferentially spaced pinion gears 91 which slidably engage with the opposite surfaces of adjacent plates 77 and the internal surfaces of the spacers 79. The gears 91 mesh with and are driven by an individual gear 93, fixed to the shaft 27 by an elongated key 95. The series of drive gears 93 are maintained in fixed position axially of the shaft 27 by an annular bear ing shoulder 96, formed integrally with the shaft 27, and a collar 97 which is locked in adjusted position by nuts 99. With reference to Figure 2, it will be noted that movement of the gears 93 will cause the driven gears 91 to fioatingly move as a unit, and in the same direction as the gear 93, about the axis of the drive shaft 27. Simultaneously with this movement, the gears 91 will each rotate about its individual axis in a direction opposite to that of the gear 93.

In use, the fluids to be blended are delivered into the mixing apparatus through the inlet openings 50 and 51 and flow through the distributor device 49, as heretofore described, to effect an initial interspersing of the fluid streams. Once the fluid streams are combined, they flow as a single stream to the mixing chamber 75 where thorough blending is accomplished. To gain entry into the first and subsequent mixing chambers, the fluid stream is required to fiow through the orifices 89 in the plates 87 and thus is introduced into each mixing chamber as a plurality of extruded streams. Almost immediately upon their entry into the chamber 75, these extruded streams are sheared or sliced by the driven gears 91 as the gears travel through their circular path about the axis of the drive shaft 27. This circular travel of the gears 91 serves also to urge the fluid material circumferentially of the mixing chambers and, in effect, stir the same. The rotation of the gears 91 about their individual axes causes the fluid within the mixing chamber to be worked or kneaded into a homogeneous mass.

As heretofore noted, the driven gears 91 will also all rotate about their individual axes in a direction opposite to that of the gear 93. Thus, fluid entering between adjacent gears 91 will be divided into a two directional ing action on the fluids, a highly uniform blended mixture is delivered to the discharge header 19.

While the invention has been described with reference to the manufacture of synthetic textile fibers, and particularly to the blending of a filament forming material with a coloring pigment, it will be course be understood that the apparatus has utility in many different and varied fields. Since the degree of intermixing and the uniformity requirements may vary from one use to another, it will be evident that the number of mixing chambers and the number and angular orientation of driven gears 91 may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It is seen from the above description that the objects of the invention are well fulfilled by the apparatus described. The description is intended to be illustrative only and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A blending apparatus including a housing, inlet means for introducing streams of materials to be blended into said housing, outlet means for removing a stream of blended materials from said housing, at least one mixing chamber formed by a pair of longitudinally spaced, fixed, substantially parallel plates disposed transversely of said housing between said inlet and outlet means, said plates each having a plurality of openings therein to cause the materials to enter and leave said mixing chamber as a plurality of streams, a rotatable shaft extending longitudinally through said housing, a drive gear fixed to said shaft and disposed within said chamber, and at least one driven gear disposed within said chamber in meshing engagement with said driving gear whereby movement of said driving gear causes said driven gear to rotate about its axis while concomitantly rotating about the axis of said driving gear, said driven and driving gears slidably engaging with opposing surfaces of said plates and together cooperating to shear the streams of materials as they enter said chamber and knead the same into a uniform mass as they travel therethrough.

2. A blending apparatus including a housing, inlet means for introducing streams of materials to be blended into said housing, outlet means for removing a stream of blended materials from said housing, at least one mixing chamber formed by a pair of longitudinally spaced, fixed, substantially parallel plates disposed transversely of said housing between said inlet and outlet means, said plates each having a plurality of openings therein to cause the streams of materials to enter and leave said mixing chamber as a plurality of streams, a rotatable shaft extending longitudinally through said housing, a plurality of circumferentially spaced gears disposed within said chamber and slidably engaging with the opposing surfaces of said plates, and means cooperating with said shaft for turning said gears about their individual axes while concomitantly rotating the same about the axis of said shaft for shearing the streams of materials as they enter said chamber and kneading the same into a uniform mass as the material travels therethrough.

3. A blending apparatus including a housing, inlet means for introducing streams of materials to be blended into said housing, outlet means for removing a stream of blended materials from said housing, at least two spaced, fixed, substantially parallel plates disposed transversely of said housing between said inlet and outlet means, at least one annular spacer having a smooth internal surface disposed between adjacent plates and 00- operating therewith to form at least one mixing chamber, said plates each having a plurality of openings therein to cause the streams or" materials to enter and leave said mixing chamber as a plurality of streams, a rotatable shaft extending longitudinally through said housing, a driving gear fixed to said shaft and disposed within said chamber, a plurality of circumferentially spaced gears disposed within said chamber and meshing with said driving gear whereby movement of said driving gear causes said driven gears to be turned about their individual axes While they are concomitantly rotated as a unit about the axis of said driving gear, said driven gears slidably engaging with opposing surfaces of said plates and the smooth internal surface of said annular spacer to shear the streams of materials as they enter said chamber and knead the same into a uniform mass as the materials travel therethr-ough.

4. A blending apparatus including a housing, inlet means for introducing into said housing streams of materials to be blended, outlet means for removing a'stream of blended material ifrorn said housing, a plurality of longitudinally spaced substantially parallel plates disposed transversely of said housing and between said inlet and outlet means, at least one annular spacer having a smooth internal surface disposed between adjacent plates and forming therewith a plurality of mixing chambers, said plates each having a plurality of openings therein to cause the streams of materials to enter and leave said mixing chambers as a plurality of individual streams, a

shaft extending longitudinally through said housing, means for turning said shaft, a driving gear disposed Within each of said chambers and fixed to said shaft, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced driven gears disposed within each of said chambers in meshing engagement with its respective driving gear, said driven gears slida-b-ly engaging with opposing surfaces of adjacent plates and with the smooth internal surface of said adjacent annular spacer whereby movement of said driving gears causes said driven gears to be turned about their individual axes while concomitantly rotating about the axis of said shaft to shear the individual streams of materials as they enter the respective mixing chambers and to knead the same into a uniform mass as they travel therethrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,246,003 Headley Nov. 6, 1917 2,169,338 Ditto Aug. 15, 1939 2,178,955 'Dnaemann Nov. 7, 1939 2,336,159 Bent Dec. 7, 1943 2,469,999 Stober May 10, 1949 2,538,466 Marco Jan. 16, 1951 2,754,542 Henning et a1. July 17, 1956 2,785,438 Wil-lert Mar. 19, 1957 2,798,698 Dooley July 9, 1957 2,815,532 Braunlich Dec. 10, 1957 

